Single-trigger firearm.



N0. 636,050. Patented 00f. 3|, I899.

- A. E. LARD.

SINGLE TRIGGER FIREARM.

Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l,

No. 636 050. Patented Oct. 3|,1899. A. E. LARD.

SINGLE TRIGGER FIREARM.

A licatibn filed Feb. 6, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

N0- 636,050. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

A. E. LARD.

SINGLE TRIGGER FIREARM.

Application filed Feb. 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

mz mmms Pzrggs co. VNQTU-LITHO, WASHINGTON, o c

STATES Nrrn ALLAN EDlVARD LARD, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

SINGLE-TRIGGER FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,050, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed February 6, 1899- Serial No. 704,649. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLAN EDWARD LARD, of St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to firing mechanism for firearms of that class set forth in my prior application, Serial No. 676,091, filed April 1, 1898, in which a single trigger is used to fire a plurality of barrels.

One object of the present improvements is to avoid discharge of the second barrel of a single-trigger gun through the involuntary pull which is made without the knowledge of the shooter after the gun is fired and which is due partly to the rebound of the gun from the shoulder and partly to the action of'the muscles under the recoil; and another object is the doing away with any preliminary travel or moving of the trigger before the firing-lug comes in contact with the sear, such as occurs in the mechanism described in said prior application.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is herein shown in connection with a shotgun provided with two shotbarrels and locks or firing mechanism embracing two hammers, together with means for actuating the same by successive pulls on a single trigger. The invention, however, maybe applied to firearms of other kinds and to those having more than two barrels.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the breech mechanism of a doublebarreled shotgun made in accordance with my invention, the lock-plate, together with one of the hammers and its actuating-springand sear, being removed to show the main operative parts of the firing mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to 6 are views of the main parts of the firing mechanism,

during the operation thereof.

illustrating the several positions of the parts Figs. 7 to 10 are a similar series of views showing the same parts, together with an additional feature not shown in Figs. 3 to 6. Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form of device for giving a preliminary movement to the detent, which controls the movement of the firing-plate. Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for changing the order in which the barrels are fired. Fig. 13 is a view of the slide on the side of the frame for actuating the device shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the modified form of the device for changing the order in which the barrels are fired. Fig. 15 is a detail view showing the same parts in side elevation. Fig. 16 is a view of the firing-plate and connected parts, showing a spring for directly actuating the firing-plate as a substitute for the trigger-spring. Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation of another form of device for changing the order in which the barrels are fired. Fig. 18 is a plan section of the same, taken on line 18 18 of Fig. 17.

As shown in the said drawings, A indicates the body or wooden portion of the gun-stock; B, the frame; 0, the barrels, which are pivoted to the forwardend of the frame, and D the fore end, which is 'detachably connected with the barrels in the usual manner.

E indicates the snap-lever, by which the locking-detent for holding the barrels in place is actuated.

F indicates one of the lock-plates upon which the locks or striking mechanisms are mounted, and G is the trigger-plate, to which the trigger is pivoted and upon which in the particularinstance illustrated the main parts of the firing mechanism are mounted. The locks are shown as consisting of the usual hammer or tumbler F, mainspring F sear F and sear-spring F. The frame is provided at its forward end with two cockinglevers D, which extend into a recess d in the fore end D and which are actuated in the depression of the forward end of the barrels at the time of loading, so as to cock or throw back the hammers in the usual manner.

Now referring to the firing mechanism by which the scars F are actuated for releasing embodiment of my invention herein shown constructed as follows:

J indicates the trigger, which is mounted on a pivotj in the trigger-plate G and is provided with an upwardly-extending triggerarm J.

K indicates a movable part or firing-plate which is pivoted to the trigger-plate and is preferably mounted on the trigger-pivot j. Said firing-plate extends rearwardly and upwardly from the pivotj and is provided with two laterally-projecting firing-lugs 7c which extend beneath and act on the sears. The firing-plate is movable relatively to and is also actuated or moved by suitable connection with the trigger in such manner that its rear end rises and its upper part moves forwardly in the act of firing the arm, the firinglugs being constructed for successive contact with the sears as such firing-plate is swung or moved on its pivot by the action of the trigger. The trigger is held normally at the forward limit of its movement by a triggerspring J herein shown as having the form of a leaf-spring, secured at its rear end by a screw j to the trigger-plate and hearing at its forward end downwardly upon that part of the flat blade of the trigger which projects rearwardly from the pivotj.

L indicates a movable detent which is movably supported on the firing-plate and is herein shown as having the form of a rearwardly-projecting prong or spur on a lever N, pivoted to the firing-plate near the top of the same, and is adapted to engage the holding or locking tooth m, formed on apost M, attached to the trigger-plate at the rear of the firingplate. Said detent L is actuated from the trigger through the medium of a lever connection or equivalent means, which serves to move or swing the detent when the trigger moves relatively to tl1e,firing'-plate and which gives to the detent a much greater amplitude of movement than that of the trigger itself. In the particular constructionillustrated the lever N is mount-ed on a pivot-stud 'n on the firing-plate, which engages said lever at a point near the upper end of the same, and said lever N is connected with the upper end of the trigger-arm J by means of a link N. The detent L is held normally at the forward end of its movement orin its retracted position by a spring N herein shown as having the form of a wire, which is coiled about a stud n on the firing-plate, is held from turning on said stud by a pin M and is engaged at its upper or free end with the lever N be low the pivot of the same.

Provision is made for throwing the detent L rearwardly or into position for locking engagement with the holding-tooth m by means of actuating connections operated by a part which is moved in the act of loading the arm. As shown in the present instance, such actuating device for the detent is operated from the snap-lever E through the medium of the rod E, which is attached to and moved by the snap-lever, said rod being provided with a lateral arm 6, which engages a notch on a sliding bar H, which sliding bar rests and slides upon the trigger-plate or other suitable supporting or guide surface and is provided at its rear end with an arm h, which rises from its rear end and is adapted for engagement with a laterally-projecting pin n on the lower part of the lever N. In connection with the device for throwing rearwardly or into its locking position the detent L, I employ a stop-plate I, having a rearwardly-facing stop shoulder or surface i, a curved top surface 2', and an upward-facing stop-surface 2' at its forward end. The stop surface or shoulder t' is so located that when the detent- L is at the rearward limit of its movement and beneath the holding-tooth m it will engage said stop-shoulder and will be held by the same from forward movement under the action of the spring N and consequent disengagement from said tooth m, the said plate I being of such height above the trigger-plate at its rear end that the detent L can pass over the same only when. the rear part of the firing-plate is elevated far enough to fire the first barrel, the parts being so arranged that the said rear end of the firing-plate can descend to itslowermost position only when the detent L is thrust to the rear of the stop-plate I and is engaged with the shoulder 2' thereof. The upwardly-facing stop-surface i at the forward end of the stop-plale I is so located that it will be engaged by the detent I. when said detent is fully retracted or has been swung forwardly far enough to be free from the holding-tooth.

Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate the operation of the part described in firing the arm, and the action thereof will be understood from the following: Fig. 3 shows the parts when the gun is ready to be broken for the insertion of the cartridges. IVhen the snap-lever E is pushed back to break the gun, as said lever moves it causes the outer end of the arm 8 upon the lower end of the bolt E to travel toward the butt-end of the gun, thereby moving the slide-bar II in the same direction. The rear end of said bar comes in contact with the stud n on the lever N, so that when the snap-lever is thrown over said bar will push the lever N rearwardly, thus causing the lower end of said lever and the detent L thereon to drop over the rear end of the stop plate I under the action of the trigger-spring, which by tending to throw the upper end of the trigger-arm rearwardly tends also,through the connection of the triggerarm with the upper end of the firing-plate by means of the lever N and link N, to throw the rear end of the firing-plate downwardly. The position of the parts after the bar II has been thrown rearwardly and the detent engaged with the stop-plate is shown in Fig. 4:. The cartridges being inserted-and the gun closed, it is now ready to be fired, the said rod II at this time being retracted to its normal position, as indicated in dotted lines in said Fig. 4, thereby leaving the detent free for subsequent forward movement. The trigger being pulled, the firing-plate moves upwardly and the first barrel is fired. The upward movement of the firing-plate is, however, arrested by contact of the detent L with the tooth on before the second lug on the firing-plate comes in contact with the second sear, the position of the parts at the moment the firing-plate is thus raised being shown in Fig. 5. The recoil has the efiect of jarring or throwing the gun rearwardly and the trigger-finger away from the trigger, and such recoil and subsequent rebound jars the firing-plate down, carrying with it the detent, thus causing the said detent to descend behind the end of the stop-plate I and into the positionshown in Fig. 4. An involuntary pull invariably follows the first pull, probably by reason of the rebound of the gun from the shoulder and the action of the body-muscles under the recoil. Under such involuntary pull the movement of the firing-plate will be again arrested before contact with the second sear takes place, as the parts will be at this time still in the position occupied at the time of the first or intentional pull, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon now releasing the trigger to a sufficient extentsay about one-fiftieth of an inchthe lever N is thrown forward to the position shown in Fig. 3 by the action of its spring, and the detent L being then free from the holdingtooth m the second barrel can now be fired by again pulling the trigger. It would seem to one not familiar with the operation of the device that when the trigger is released after the secondary or reactionary pull the triggerspring would cause the detent to descend behind or upon the stop-plate I. This does not occur, however; but, on the contrary, when the trigger is being released the upper surface of the detent L hugs closely the point of the tooth m as the detent moves forward and the trigger-spring does not throw the firingplate downward until after the point of the detent has cleared the point of the tooth. The shape of the stop-plate I is such that the lower surface of the detent is just permitted to clear said upper surface of the stop-plate, the curved top surface t" being curved to correspond with the path of the detent. The stop-surface i upon which the detent rests when retracted, joins the concave surface i and is so located as to elevate the point of the detent above the lowest point of the tooth m. When said detent is in its retracted position, the contact of the detent with said surface 11 serves to hold the firing-plate in its elevated position, as clearly seen in Fig. The stopsurface thereof holds the firing-plate in position with the second firing-lug directly against the second sear, thus doing away with the travel of the trigger occurring in the device shown in my prior application before the second firing-lug comes in contact with the sec ond sear. The action of the firing-plate immediately after the detent clears the holdingtooth m is to jump or rise slightly, carrying the detent upward with it, so that the lower end of the lever N is carried up on the slightly-elevated stop-surface 2' where it is held by the action of the spring N When the snap-lever is thrown to reload the gun, the depressed or concave surface of the stopplate I permits the detent to descend so as to enable its point to pass under the holdingtooth m, as clearly seen in Fig. 6, which shows the detent resting on the concave surface of said stop-plate. Said concave surface 1' of the stop-plate affords a means of holding the detent in position to lock or block the firingplate from movement under the involuntary pull referred to should the jar of the recoil fail to throw said detent so far to the rear as to pass behind the stop plate. This will be understood by reference to said Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that should the detent fail to descend behind the stop-shoulder '5 under the jar of the recoil and subsequent rebound the rearward and downward movement of the firing-plate occurring in the recoil and subsequent rebound, assisted by the action of the trigger-spring, will bring the detent against the top surface of the stopplate with the effect to arrest its movement before its escape from the holding-tooth, the result being that in the second or involuntary pull occurring at the time of firing the detent will still be in .position to engage the holdingtooth and the second barrel cannot be fired until the pressure on the trigger is released and the detent is allowed to swing forward and reaches its fully-retracted position.

The stop-plate I is shown as being attached to the trigger-plate by the same screw which secures the trigger-sprin g to said plate. Said stop-plate may, however, be otherwise attached to the trigger-plate, or it may be attached to some other part of the frame, or it may have the form of an integral projection on the trigger-plate or other part of the frame. Moreover, the rearwardly-facing stop-shoulder 2' and the upwardly-facing stop-surface i may be formed on separate pieces or parts or by separate projections on the trigger-plate or frame, these surfaces being formed on a single plate I in the construction shown in the drawings merely as a matter of convenience.

In order to make the descentof the detent upon or behind the stop-plate I more positive and certain, I provide an additional device as follows: On the rear part of the firingplate is pivoted a lever T, having on its upper end a weight or leaden ball T and on its lower end, below its pivot, a stud i, which projects laterally therefrom into the path of the lever N. The distance from the pivot to the upper end of the lever T is considerably greater than the distance from the pivot to the stud on its lower end. The movement of the lower end of the lever T toward the muzzle is limited by contact with said firing-plate, and the stud 25 is held against the edge of the firing-plate by means of a very light spring T herein shown as having the form of an open spiral spring held between the upper part of said lever and the firing-plate and adapted to be compressed between the same. In order to make this spring very resilient, I give it additional length by inserting it in a recess in the firing-plate, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The operation of the lever T is illustrated in the several views, Figs. 7 to 10. l/Vhen the gun is ready to be fired, the lower end of the lever T is free to move toward the lever N, as seen in Fig. 8, against the action of the spiral spring T When the first barrel is fired, the upper part of the lever will be thrown by the recoil toward the muzzle of the gun and the stud 6 will be carried' against the lever N, as seen in Fig. 9. The impact of the said stud against the lever will prevent any forward movement of the latter and cause it to descend behind the stop-plate I to the position shown in Fig. 8, Where it will be held by the action of the trigger-spring until the involuntary pull has been given, after which when the trigger has been released the second barrel may be fired, as before. Obviously the lever T will be returned by the action of the spring T to its normal position from the position shown in Fig. 9 instantly after the recoil takes place, so that the stud 75 will be out of the Way of the lever when the latter is retracted preparatory to firing the second barrel.

If for any reason the lever N should fail to be jarred over the rear end of the stop-plate I or the stud 6 should arrive too late or lack sufficient power to drive the said lever over the end of the stop-plate, then the said stud will meet the lever as it swings forward to carry the detent from under the tooth m and the impact will stop the lever and throw it against the upper surface of the stop-plate I, where it will be held by the trigger-spring until the involuntary pull is given, as clearly seen in Fig. 10, which shows the parts at the moment of impact of the stud If against the lever. The said stud t will of course be thrown forward away from the lever by the action of the spring T immediately after the moment of contact, and the detent will be held in position to engage the tooth m by its frictional engagement with the top surface of the stop-plate in the same manner as before described in connection with Fig. 6.

In order to provide for firing either barrel first, a device is provided, which is shown in Figs. 2, 12, and 13 and in another form in Figs. 14 and 15. As shown in Figs. 2, 12, and

. 13, the upper contact-surfaces of both the firing-lugs are arranged at the same elevation, and in connection with said lugs is provided a lever B, which is pivoted centrally to the firing-plate, and the ends of which are arranged to swing horizontally over the firinglugsand are so disposed that when one end of the lever is over one of the firing-lugs its opposite end will be free from the other firing-lug. An operating device is provided by which the said lever can be actuated from the outer surface of the breech-fran1e. The lever B illustrated has the form of a bent lever pivoted centrally by means of the pivot-stud r to the firing-plate. Upon the side plate or lock-plate of the frame is located a slide R, similar to the ordinary safety-slide, but having an inwardly-extending forked projection 0", adapted to engage an arm r on one end of the lever B. Assuming the ends of the said leverto be one-sixteenth of an inch thick and the slide R pushed rearwardly, the same being on the left-hand side of the gun when the gun has been cooked, the sear for the lefthand barrel will be one-sixteenth of an inch above the left firing lug and the right sear in contact with the end of the lever B, which is over the right firing-lug. Now if the trigger be operated, first the right and then the left barrel will be fired. If, however, the slide R be pushed forward, the lever R will be swung into a reverse position, and the onesixteenth-of-an-inch space which existed between the left-hand scar and its firing-lug will have been filled up by the left-hand end of the lever, while a space of one-sixteenth of an inch will have been left between the right scar and its firing-lug by the removal of that end of the lever. If the trigger be now pulled, the left-hand barrel will be first fired, its sear being lifted by the action of the lever end resting over the left firing-lug. YVhen the trigger is again pulled, the right barrel will be fired, its sear being lifted by contact therewith of the stationary part of the right firing-lug. The letters R and L will be preferably arranged at opposite ends of the path of the slide R, so that one or the other of the said letters will be covered by the ends of the slide, thereby indicating that either the right or left barrel will be fired first, according to the position of the slide. In Figs. 14: and 15 I have shown a modification of this construction adapted for use in guns Where the very limited space necessitates extension of the firing-lugs to the rear of the lever N. In this instance a lever S will be pivoted transversely to the firing-plate forward of the leverN, and to the ends of said lever will be pivotally connected sliding bars S S the rear ends of which are adapted to slide over the top surfaces of the firing-lugs guided by guidingpins 8 in the said lugs, and one or the other of which may be placed in position to act upon the sear in the same manner as before described. In said Figs. 14 and 15 a slide S is provided for operating the lever S, the same being located at the side of the frame, near its top. In this instance the slide S is connected with the lever S by an upright lever IIO S pivoted on the firingplate, engaged at its lower end with a hole 8 in said lever S and having its upper end bent or extended laterally toward the side of the frame and engaged with a forked projection s on the said slide in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

In guns where the bolt E of the snap-lever does not pass through the action of the gun the construction shown in Fig. 11 may be used, in which a reduced portion or stud 6 extends rearwardly from the bolt E, which looks the barrels when the gun is closed. Said bolt is the one employed to operate the safety slide or catch and is usually located about three-fourths of an inch above the triggerplate, and when such a reduced portion or stud e is used it extends rearwardly from said bolt to apoint opposite the leverN, and a stud n is provided on said lever opposite the end of the stud 6 so as to be engaged therewith in the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with the slide-bar H.

Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate a modification of the detent L and plate I, in which these parts are provided with serrated or toothed contactfaces. This insures a more positive engagement of the detent with the top surface of the stop-plate than is secured by frictional engagement of the parts.

In Fig. 16 a trigger-spring is omitted and a light openly-coiled spiral spring U is inserted between the right firing-lug and the triggerplate, its upper end engaging a stud on the lug and its lower end enteringa recess-in the trigger-plate. The purpose of this spring in the absence of the stop-surface i is to hold firing-lugs directly in contact with the sears, the tension of the spring being just sufficient to lift the firing-plate and the parts attached thereto. Obviously such a spring must not be strong enough in its action to lift the sears. hen the first barrel is fired, the recoil will overcome the tension of the spring thus arranged and the parts will operate as before.

In Figs. 17 and 18 is shown a device for the same purpose illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15-namely, changing the order in which the barrels are discharged-which has the advantage of being somewhat more simple in construction than those shown in the preceding figures. In this instance a bent lever Q is pivoted transversely of the firing-plate and is arranged in the same manner as is the lever R of Fig. 12, and a device is provided for actuating the same, consisting of a lever Q, pivoted to the side of the firing-plate near its lower edge and connected at its upper end by a link q with the said lever Q. At its lower end the lever Q extends downwardly through a hole in the trigger-plate and is provided with a head or finger piece q. Aleaf-spring Q is pivoted to the firing-plate by means of a pivot-stud (1 located above the pivot of the lever Q. The lower end of said spring is engaged with a notch g in the upper end of the said lever and is adapted to swing or move with the same, the upper end of the spring turning on its pivot when its lower end is thus moved. The spring Q is made of such length that it will be straight, or nearly so, when the lever Q is at either limit of its movement, and said spring is so made that it will be flexed between its ends when its lower end is brought nearer its upper one in the swinging of the upper end of the lever Q over its pivotal point. The spring thus arranged obviously serves to hold the lever Q at either limit of its movement, while permitting it to be easily moved by the hand from one position to the other. The lever Q operates in this instance in connection with the firinglugs in the same manner as before described in connection with the similar lever shown in Fig. 12.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a plurality of locks 0r striking mechanisms, of a firing mechanism embracing a single trigger,a firing-plate which moves with, but has a movement relatively to the trigger, means acting to arrest the movement of the firing-plate, after one of the locks has been actuated, means operated by the recoil of the arm in firing acting to hold the trigger and firing plate from movement under the involuntary pull on the trigger following that by which the first barrel is discharged and means operated through relative movement of the firing-plate and trigger, acting to release the firing-plate preparatory to a succeeding discharge. v

2. The combination with a plurality of looks or striking mechanisms, of asingle trigger, a firing-plate which moves with but has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate and which is moved into its releasing position upon release of the pressure on the trigger, and means acting on said detent to temporarily retain the same in its holdingposition during the involuntary pull on the trigger, occurring at the time of firing the arm.

3. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movements of the firing-plate and which is moved into its releasing position upon release of pressure on the trigger and a stop-plate located in position to engage the detent when pressure on the trigger is released after firing the first barrel, and to thereby block the movement of the firing-plate under the succeeding involuntary pull on the trigger occurring at the time of discharge.

4E. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate and which is moved into its releasing position upon release of the pressure on the trigger and a stop located in position to engage the detent when the latter is in its retracted or releasing IIO firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate and trigger, and means Operating independently of the trigger for throwing said detent into its holding position before the trigger is operated. v

6. A breech-loading firearm comprising a plurality of locking or striking mechanisms, a single trigger, a firing-plate which is moved by and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate and trigger, and which is actuated to release the firing-plate when the pressure upon the trigger is released, and means for throwing the detent into its holding position prior to the first operation of the trigger, having operative connection with a part which is moved during the performance of the acts required for loading the arm.

7. The combination with a frame, gun-barrels hinged thereto, a locking device and a snap-lever for operating the same, of a plurality of looks or striking mechanisms, a single trigger, a firing-plate which is moved by and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate and which is moved out of its holdin g position when pressure upon the trigger is released, and means operated by the snap-lever acting to throw said detent into its holding position before the first action of the trigger.

8. The combination with a plu rality of looks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate and is pivoted to the latter, and means for throwing said detent into its holding position embracing an endwise-sliding rod engaging the said detent, and a snap-lever having operative connection with and giving endwise move ment to the said rod.

9. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a

' firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent pivoted to the firing-plate and having operative connection with the trigger, said detent being provided with a curved holding-pron g, a holding-tooth on the frame adapted for engagement with the prong of the detent, and a shouldered stop or projection on the frame located in position to engage the detent when in its holding position. i

10. The combination with a plurality 0 looks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firingplate, a stop-plate located in position for contact with the detent when the latter is in its holding position, and a movably-supported weight which acts upon the detent to throw the same into its holding position when the arm is fired.

11. The combination with a plurality of looks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which is pivoted to and controls the movement of the firing-plate, a stop-plate located in position for contact with the detent when the latter is in its holding position and a weighted lever pivoted to the firing-plate and acting on the detent.

12. The combination with a plurality of locks or firing mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which is pivoted to and controls the movem ent of the firing-plate, and a stop-plate having a stop-shoulder at its rear end and a concave upper surface for engagement with the said detent.

13. The combination with a plurality of looks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with and has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which is pivoted to and controls the movement of the firing-plate, and a stop-plate which has a stop-shoulder at its rear end, a concave top surface and an elevated stop-surface at its forward end adapted to engage the detent when in its retracted position.

14. The combination with locks provided with sears, of a trigger, a firing-plate provided with lugs or contact-surfaces for engagement with the scars, and which are adapted to act successively on the sears, said lugs being provided with shifting parts which form the contact-faces of the said lugs, and operative connections for actuating said shifting parts.

15. The combination with locks provided with scars, of a trigger, afiring-plate provided with lugs or contact-surfaces for engagement with the scars said lugs being provided with shifting parts which form the contact-faces of the lugs, said parts being connected by a transversely-arranged lever pivoted to the firing-plate, and a slide on the frame having operative-connection with said lever.

16. The combination of a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a firing-plate which moves with, but has movement relatively to the trigger, a spring ap plied between the firing-plate and the frame operating to lift the firing-plate, a detent which controls the movement of the firingplate and which is moved into its releasing position upon releasing the pressure on the trigger, and means acting on said detent to temporarily retain the same in its holding position during the involuntary pull 011 the trigger occurring immediately after firing the first barrel.

17. The combination with a plurality of looks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger,a firing-plate which moves with,but which has movement relatively to the trigger, a detent which controls the movement of the firing-plate, operative connections between the said detent and trigger embracing means by which the detent is given a greater amplitude IIS ence of two witnesses, this 24th day of January, A. D. 1899.

ALLAN EDVARD LARD.

Witnesses:

J. L. WoonsoN, J. W. PETERSON. 

